Deleting front electronic struts

Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's, Olds 98 91-96, Buick Lesabres and Park Avenue 91-96. Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.
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DaBlackPearl
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Deleting front electronic struts

Post by DaBlackPearl »

I installed a set of quick struts by Monroe on the front end of my 94' SSEi.
In doing this I had to disconnect the front strut wires. Ok , no problem there.
However, the rear air shocks are not functioning.
Is there a way to turn them back on without having electronic front struts.
Is there a by-pass or a way to trick the wires into thinking the fronts were still electronic?
I would like for the rears to use the compressor again.
Thanks.
Thanks, Rich :)
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Re: Deleting front electronic struts

Post by J Wikoff »

The two systems aren't connected, I don't think. The load leveling has a sensor on the right rear that can fail. I've had one just stop working, and one had the arm break off. There's a relay, and a fuse you can check. On my 92, they are behind the glove box, but I think they moved by 94 to the underhood firewall area.
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Re: Deleting front electronic struts

Post by mntnbkr »

Yep, The adjustable struts are a completely separate system form the air leveling system. The front strut connectors being disconnected shouldn't have any affect on your rear air shocks.
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Re: Deleting front electronic struts

Post by TDS-94SSEi »

Agree with the previous posters. The elec portion of the OE strut was what controlled the ride quality choice from touring to performance, or whatever those designations were. Both front and rear I believe had the ability of changes to the valving to work with the ride select system.

The AIR portion of the strut solely worked the ELC leveling system, from my understanding. The rear struts are the only ones on the car with connection to the air lines.

If your rear is not levelling or holding ride height, you have either a problem with the ride height sensor on the passenger side rear suspension, or a compressor problem, or the struts are no longer holding air.

It was my understanding that the 'Quick Strut' assembly uses a standard coil spring, not the heavier duty one that came on the SSEi's. Not that it wouldn't function on the car, but at a lower level of performance is all.
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Re: Deleting front electronic struts

Post by DaBlackPearl »

Yeah, I could not find a quick strut with the HD coil springs listed.
It would of cost more to build it in pieces.
The good news is that it drove way better than ever before with the whole front end rebuilt.

The bad news is I took the car back to the wrench today because after $5,000 I am not fixing something that wasn't broke before he got it. They said they will check everything tomorrow.

Here is what is wrong that I know. The compressor doesn't run anymore. It used to cycle on after key off. The car came off the rack last Monday and tonight the rear looked low compared to normal. I explained to them that the rear is a separate system and that the compressor worked fine before I dropped it, it even could air up tires from the trunk line and emergency air hose kit that came with the car. Yeah, that still worked!

They need to fix the rear shock thing, check a creaking noise in front end that sounds like a control arm bushing,(creaks on launch and hard stop as body shifts front to back), and recheck the alignment. Steering wheel alignment was good, but car had slight pull to left.
Thanks, Rich :)
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Re: Deleting front electronic struts

Post by DaBlackPearl »

Update:
Car pulls to left~Rack and pinion is cause of problem. Wheel alignment was good. Will fix later.

Noise if front end~Cradle bushings are worn and cradle is moving on hard starts and stops. Will replace all 12 bushings(yellow paint) next week.

Rear shocks~Compressor is fried! no aftermarket pump is listed. Don't really trust a junkyard one. Not sure if I am going to replace the air pump or switch the shocks and springs out to non-air. This sucks. It's gonna cost no matter what!

I might fix the Rack and Pinion while the cradle is down for the bushings too. Hmmmm.
Advice?
Last edited by DaBlackPearl on Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks, Rich :)
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The Black Pearl-94 SSEi stock 150,000miles
MODS...Magnaflow Cat, Magnaflow F-body Muffler, 180*F T-stat, 2.5"pulley, Yella Terra 1.8" roller rockers, custom CAI box, 93'SSEi fuel pressure regulator(3.0BAR), Walbro HP fuel pump, reman Jasper trans, new front suspension
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Re: Deleting front electronic struts

Post by dpcookson »

I'm parting out my 92 SSEi. It has a working pump.
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Re: Deleting front electronic struts

Post by zuper8 »

here's another option for your air compressor.

there's a bypass kit that allows you to just manually put air in them. and it's like 10 bucks, i got mine at autozone. a cheap and easy fix, unless you're reeeally set on having the self-leveling set-up.

the part number is "GB141099"
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Re: Deleting front electronic struts

Post by bonnevillain »

You should be able to rig the stock schrader valve to to that also
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Re: Deleting front electronic struts

Post by DaBlackPearl »

but what about dumping the air ride all together and just using HD struts and new coil springs back there?

dpcookson, how much for the pump and is it the same as the 94? Will it plug in and mount up?
Thanks, Rich :)
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The Black Pearl-94 SSEi stock 150,000miles
MODS...Magnaflow Cat, Magnaflow F-body Muffler, 180*F T-stat, 2.5"pulley, Yella Terra 1.8" roller rockers, custom CAI box, 93'SSEi fuel pressure regulator(3.0BAR), Walbro HP fuel pump, reman Jasper trans, new front suspension
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Re: Deleting front electronic struts

Post by DaBlackPearl »

Checking again, is it advantageous to drop the air shocks and go non-air in the rear?
That would save me from buying a pump. Or is that a bad idea?

dpcookson~you have PM.
Thanks, Rich :)
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The Black Pearl-94 SSEi stock 150,000miles
MODS...Magnaflow Cat, Magnaflow F-body Muffler, 180*F T-stat, 2.5"pulley, Yella Terra 1.8" roller rockers, custom CAI box, 93'SSEi fuel pressure regulator(3.0BAR), Walbro HP fuel pump, reman Jasper trans, new front suspension
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Re: Deleting front electronic struts

Post by 00Beast »

I wouldn't. You're going to give up a lot in the terms of ride when loaded. I'd use the kit that zuper8 recommended, and just air them up to a set pressure.
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